President Bush isn’t going to leave migrant workers empty handed as he leaves the White House. Changes to the H-2A agricultural guestworker program were released in the dark of night, in an attempt to hide their blatant disregard for the lives of others, namely a majority Latino immigrant population.

The changes are horrible. At a time when the jobless rate is at a 15 year high, they reduce obligations for growers to effectively recruit U.S. workers before applying to bring in guestworkers for these jobs. They lower the wage rates for all farmworkers by changing the program’s wage formula and, in an industry known for labor abuses, they eliminate or reduce government oversight.

So while the anti-immigrant advocates point their fingers at immigrants for the U.S.’s current economic problems, the current administration hits hard against ALL workers, in terms of wages and rights.

Yesterday, Farmworker Justice released a report : , Litany of Abuses, Why We Need More –Not Fewer– Labor Protections in the H-2A Guestworker Program (PDF)

The report explains the current protections within the program and highlights some recent court cases illustrating the harm caused to both U.S. farmworkers and guestworkers alike. We urge you to take a look at the report then act now to urge Congress to take action to stop the Bush Administration from formally issuing the regulations.

The real deal is that the anti-immgrant hate movement has done more harm to the economy than immigration itself. The fear instilled in whole communities and the terrorist acts of ICE have created more harm than good. Look at the aftermath of Postville. Perhaps it’s time time to take a page from the workers in Chicago, who refused to leave their factories when their rights were taken away. Perhaps we need more workers taking over factories and farmlands too.

Via / Harvesting Justice, Citizen Orange